Delhi Government Formation: SC Asks Centre to Reply by October 10

The Centre seeks four weeks’ time from Supreme Court regarding the issue of government formation in Delhi while the tussle continues on the matter between Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party, here on Tuesday.

The centre said that Lieutenant General Najeeb Jung had recommended that BJP be allowed to form the government in Delhi. He was said to review his letter to President Pranab Mukherjee in which he seeks permission to invite the BJP to form a government by AAP leaders. Jung mentions in his letter, "I shall be grateful if the president grants approval to invite the BJP, even today the single largest party in the legislature, to their interest in forming the government.”

AAP has released a video on Monday which allegedly showed BJP Deputy President Sher Singh Dagar indulging in horse trading. Thus, BJP was accused of indulging in horse-trading and the petition was filed by Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP seeking dissolution of the assembly.

The Supreme Court has granted four weeks time, till October 10, to the Centre and asked to file its response. The centre was asked to conclude process of government formation in Delhi fast.

However, the bench had asked the Centre what steps it has taken to explore the possibility of government formation during the last five months, on the petition filed by AAP. It has also raised the question why the MLAs be paid from taxpayers’ money for sitting idle when the Assembly had been kept in suspended animation.

Arvind Kejriwal, when spoke to medias, said that his party has complete faith in judicial system and they would get justice. Meanwhile Kejriwal banged Lt. Jung for recommending BJP to form government in Delhi. AAP leader Manish Sisodia said, “"We requested him to revise the letter sent to the president seeking his permission to invite the BJP to form the government in Delhi, as the party is trying to form a government through horse-trading."

President’s Rule was imposed in Delhi on February 17 after the government led by Kejriwal had resigned on February 14.